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Course: World History Project AP® > Unit 1
Lesson 2: 1.2—Developments in Asia- BEFORE YOU WATCH: Unit 1 Overview - The Global Tapestry
- WATCH: Unit 1 Overview
- ACTIVITY: Introduction to Three Close Reads
- READ: Unit 1 Introduction - The Global Tapestry, 1200 to 1450
- READ: East Asia 1200-1450
- BEFORE YOU WATCH: Silk and the State in Song Dynasty China
- WATCH: Silk and the Song Dynasty
- READ: Dar-al-Islam 1200–1450
- BEFORE YOU WATCH: Emergence of Islam
- WATCH: The Emergence of Islam
- READ: South and Southeast Asia 1200–1450
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BEFORE YOU WATCH: Silk and the State in Song Dynasty China
Use the “Three Close Reads” approach as you watch the video below.
Before you watch
Before you watch the video, it’s a good idea to open and skim the video [transcript](insert transcript link). And always read the questions below so you know what to look and listen for as you watch.
While you watch
- According to Francesca, where was silk produced in the era of the Song Dynasty, and what were some of the most important export markets?
- According to Professor Xiaolin Duan, how did the economy work during the Song Dynasty? Who made silk, in particular?
- Other than clothing, what other uses were there for silk?
- According to Professor Duan, was the silk trade part of a wider Afro-Eurasian trading system? How?
- What does the Pictures of Tilling and Weaving tell us about who did most of the work to produce silk?
- Does Professor Duan believe that there was an industrial revolution in China in this period? What evidence is there for it?
After you watch
- How does the production and trade of silk impact the government, economy, social interactions, and cultural developments of China?
- Chinese silk is one example of a local commodity that was traded across extensive regional networks. The silk trade reshaped small communities, the Chinese state, and regional exchange networks across much of Asia. Can you think of anything that is or was once made in your community? Where does that good get distributed? Who produces it? How does that industry affect your community, and how do you think it impacts other places?
Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to watch. Remember to return to these questions once you’ve finished watching.